risks of going past due

Re: risks of going past due

• chyscottbaby member

  May 2012

  I was induced with DS # 1 at 40 wks 3 days and had no problems with meconium. With this LO I did op to schedule an induction before 40 wks, only because DS #1 was very big and I had a pretty tough labor (3hrs pushing, episotomy & 4th degree tear and was super close to having a c/s) so Dr and I decided yesterday at my 39 wk appt if baby didn't come over the weekend then we would induce on Mon. I will be 39 wks 4 days. Dr was fine with letting me go past due date, but it was my choice to do the induction a bit earlier. I think you have to do whats best for you and your little one and if the Dr ok's it then I think you should be fine either way. GL.

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• FyreFlyeRush member

  May 2012

  Meconium is kind of like the cord being wrapped around the neck. Sounds scarier than it is, and more common than people think. We tend to freak out about without needing to. Doctors are more than prepare to deal with it. The biggest risk is if the baby inhales it. My sister did that, and spent a little time in NICU, but it was only partly related to inhalation. I was also a meconium baby, as was my niece. Of the three of us, only my sister had an issue. Also, I was the only one over due. I was at 43w, my sister at 40w, and my niece was 37w. It can also have to do with the baby being stressed or just having a BM in utero.

  Now, I'm over 35 (by 2 months), so I most likely won't be allowed to go past 40w. There is a risk in women over 35 of still births from placenta deterioration if they go past 41w. Most OBs deliver between 40 and 41, but my due date is Memorial Day weekend.

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• k8edgerton member

  May 2012

  Most doctors rule of thumb is no more than 14 days past due. They wouldn't allow it if it wasn't okay for the baby.
  

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• deziyou

  May 2012

  Both of my children had their first bowel movement before they were born. DD was 4 days early and DS 4 days late. DS actually inhaled his, and his doctor said that it could have something to do with why he has so many upper respiratory issues or at least that it weakend his upper respiratory system. He's had pneumonia 3 times and is 16 months old, and he's also mildly asthmatic. I'm not 100% sure if the two are related at all, but his doctor said it could be very possible.

  

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• fyziksgirl member

  May 2012

  FyreFlyeRush:

  Meconium is kind of like the cord being wrapped around the neck. Sounds scarier than it is, and more common than people think. We tend to freak out about without needing to. Doctors are more than prepare to deal with it. The biggest risk is if the baby inhales it. My sister did that, and spent a little time in NICU, but it was only partly related to inhalation. I was also a meconium baby, as was my niece. Of the three of us, only my sister had an issue. Also, I was the only one over due. I was at 43w, my sister at 40w, and my niece was 37w. It can also have to do with the baby being stressed or just having a BM in utero.

  Now, I'm over 35 (by 2 months), so I most likely won't be allowed to go past 40w. There is a risk in women over 35 of still births from placenta deterioration if they go past 41w. Most OBs deliver between 40 and 41, but my due date is Memorial Day weekend.

  This. I was also a meconium baby, and it was nbd, just required doctors ready to suction me when I was born. Most of the time it is no problem, once in awhile it means baby spends a few days in NICU and then has no problems, and once in awhile within that small subgroup it can mean baby has serious problems. But there are a lot of other potential problems from baby being early or late that are just as probable.
  

  Also, keep in mind meconium doesn't just happen from post-dates. It can happen for a lot of reasons. Being induced at 40 weeks doesn't mean your baby won't have meconium in his/her waters. Going 3 weeks late doesn't mean they will, either.

  And finally, not to be too much of a debbie downer, but please remember inductions are not completely safe, either. The risks with induction are small, but so are the risks with meconium in the water. It is not choosing between the danger of meconium (which may not happen even if you go past your due date) and the safety of induction, it is choosing which set of risks you would prefer.
  

  

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• lindy27 member

  May 2012

  I went into labor on my own at 40+3.  My LO had meconium and she was fine, they just suctioned her stomach out a bit.  It didn't prevent her from crying immediately or cause a trip to the NICU.

  

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